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Eugene resident faces charges after death of homeless man

A Eugene man suspected in last month’s beating of a homeless man who later died of his injuries has been indicted on manslaughter and assault charges.

A Lane County grand jury indictment handed up Tuesday charges Cory Wayne Freeman, 28, with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault. Freeman is not in custody and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Freeman is accused of causing the death of Gerald Wudarski, a 53-year-old transient. Wudarski and Freeman got into a fight early on the morning of June 28 after Freeman chased Wudarski and another man out of Freeman’s backyard in the 2200 block of West 19th Avenue, Eugene police Detective Matt Herbert said.

The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m., when Wudarski and his friend were out looking for returnable cans and one of them walked into the yard of Freeman’s duplex. Freeman was in the yard and chased the men, Herbert said.

Freeman caught Wudarski and an altercation ensued. Herbert said no weapons were used.

A neighbor who heard the men called police. Officers arrived a short time later and ended up citing Wudarski and his friend for criminal trespass.

A city fire department engine also was called, and a medic evaluated Wudarski. Herbert said Wudarski, who had only minor visible injuries, declined any treatment and was allowed to leave.

“There were no obvious symptoms that a more serious injury had occurred,” Herbert said.

But shortly after 6 a.m., a security camera showed Wudarski going into the restroom at Mary Lou’s Laundromat at 1755 W. 18th Ave.

There was no response when someone knocked on the door almost an hour later, and police were called.

Officers forced open the door and found Wudarski unconscious inside. He was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield and died late that afternoon.

Herbert said Wudarski died from a closed head injury.

Both second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault are Measure 11 crimes. Upon conviction, second-degree manslaughter carries a mandatory sentence of six years and three months in prison, while second-degree assault carries a sentence of five years and 10 months.

Freeman has two earlier convictions on drug possession charges, one in Lane County and another in Linn County, both filed in 2005.

He served a short jail term and was placed on probation. Also, a woman sought a civil stalking order against him earlier this month.

Wudarski is the second homeless man killed in Eugene this year. Herbert “Pac-Man” Bishop was found May 11 under a tree in Skinner Butte Park beaten to death. Two men face aggravated murder charges in connection with Bishop’s death.